SALISBURY, Md.- A Hebron, Md. woman found guilty of a long list of misdemeanors in connection with a highly publicized animal cruelty case involving dozens of horses that were found dead or neglected early last year will receive no jail time.
Barbara Pilchard, 75, appeared Monday in Wicomico County Circuit Court for sentencing involving the 13 horses of which she was convicted. She was sentenced to five years supervised probation and a $1,000 fine per each horse for a total of $13,000. Pilchard was also sentenced to 90 days jail time for each of the six horses that died for a total of 18 months, all of which was suspended as long as she stays within the parameters of her probation. She was also ordered to not own, keep or have any animals during her probationary period.
Early last month during a bench trial a judge found her guilty on 39 misdemeanor charges out of the 56 counts she faced.
The charges involved 13 of Pilchard's horses, four of which that were euthanized on the scene and three that were euthanized later. The other seven horses are still alive and at other farms a year after.
For each of the 13 horses, Pilchard was found guilty of three misdemeanors: animal cruelty, neglect/insufficient food and neglect/insufficient veterinary care.
The case stems from the discovery of at least 25 dead horses, along with dozens of other horses living in deplorable conditions on Pilchard's farm on Cherry Walk Road near Hebron on March 16, 2018.